Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-06-28
INSTANTANEOUS.
sBBfsi tFoE the Spirit of Jctferson.l
Reflections for the Farmer.

farming pOpuiace. JIG uo'eiiOi S''1o.'
in prices of all their'products of agrl-
culture, such as corn, wheat, cattle,
hay. &c, attracts our attention now
more than ever before. To alleviate
their sufferings, to secure to them
fair prices for their articles of sale,
should be the aim and desire of every
man in public lift. Our state of So
ciety is such that the failure of crops,
the low prices for farming products,
affects not only the producer, but the
merchant, lawyer, mechanic and
members of every art and trade
Hence in securing to the farmer a
proper rccompense for his toll and
capital, we contribute to the financial,
social and material interest of every
member included in the social fabric.
Before we can resolve on n remedy,
talismanic wand that will bring hap
piness and prosperity to all alike, we
must seek the root Of evil, the canker
which is knawing at the vitals OF So
ciety. lin every cline, in every
country, in all past ages, the stability
and strength of governments have
been drawn from the sincws OF the
producing classes, those citizens
without whom the whole fabric would
tumble to the ground. Greece and
Rome are but too familiar examples
of those who thought that s the wealth
of universal province could secure
to the empire the permanency of its
possessions, - but they were mistak-
en-; when the land of tyranny
clutched the throat of the fountain of
strength, Greece and Rome were no
more. With such precepts in view,
it is obvious to us that the stability of
the republic lies in the freedom and
protection of the great mass of our
population, known as the producing
classes. The cause of the depression
in the values of agricultural products
is over-production, brought about by
populating and developing the great
agricultural lands of the West, and
bringing their products i'll competl-
ton with all othcrsin the principal
markets of the world. This policy
of immigration followed SO long by
our public men has brought ruin to
the homes of the farmer in the more
eastern states. This invasion of our
birthright by the mongrel populace
of the world can hardly be too Sc
vercly condemned. Since we cannot
reduce the number of the farming
class, we must relatively increase the
number of consumers. The Virginias
own immense coal and iron deposits
as yet undevcloped. Let us turn
our latent energies to these develop
ments, and instead of leading the
natural increase of our population in
agricultural pursuits, let us turn our
attention to other channels. But by
no means attempt to increase the
number of consumers by foreign i'm
migration, for we have n good thing
here and let us keep it, so that we
may hand down to posterity coun-
try rich and prosperous. 1t will not
take long to add a million population
to the States above named, and then
we will enter on 4 career of prosper
ity, which is even now foreshadowcd
by the influx of capital into our coal
fields, and which we are led to believe
will pour the golden stream of
wealth., IuAU JuS' ASSo'iPEi'0S " "
dustry and perseverance, into the
pockets and homes of our producing
classes. Let the voice of the people
warn the representatives of monopoly
who would crush beneath the foot of
oppression the rights of the people.
Let us relegatc to obscurity those po-
litical parasites who have so long
toasted on the lambs of society,"
And lastly let us instruct our repre-
scntatives to use their influence to
modify a system of taxation which
benefits single class. When we
have accomplished these ends then
will the viper of oppression release
its hold on the homes of the produc-
ing classes. - lNGoMAR.